C2A1

This page is about the German main battle tank C2A1. For other vehicles of the family, see Leopard 1 (Family). For other uses, see Leopard (Disambiguation).

C2A1

C2A1

Germany

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.3	9.3	9.3

Class:

Medium tank

Purchase:Bundle or Gift

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MARKET

Description

The Leopard C2A1 MEXAS is a gift rank VI German medium tank with a battle rating of 9.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced during Update "Starfighters" as a reward for the 2020 Operation S.U.M.M.E.R. event.

General info

Survivability and armour

Smoke grenades

Creation of a smoke screen in front of the vehicle

Armourfront / side / back

Hull70 / 35 / 25

Turret65 / 45 / 52

Crew4 people

Visibility95 %

Armour type:

• Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret roof)
• Cast homogeneous armour (turret, gun mantlet, turret ring)
• Composite screen (add-on armour on the hull and the turret)

Armour	Front (Slope angle)	Sides	Rear	Roof
Hull	70 mm (60°) Upper Glacis 50 mm (50°) Lower Glacis	35 mm (39-41°) Top 30 mm Bottom	25 mm (14°) Upper Glacis 25 mm (49°) Lower Glacis	30 mm Front 15 mm (7°) Rear
Turret	65 mm Turret front 45-200 mm (0-67°) Gun mantlet	37-45 mm Left Side 40-43 mm Right Side	25-52 mm	20-35 mm

Notes:

• Suspension wheels, tracks and bogies are 20 mm thick.
• Storage boxes at the back of the turret are 5 mm thick.
• Additional armour covers the hull and the turret:

Composite screens	Front (Slope angle)	Sides
Hull	Up to 200 mm Upper Glacis Up to 200 mm Lower Glacis	Up to 320 mm Top Up to 150 mm Bottom
Turret	Up to 450 mm Gun mantlet	Up to 320 mm

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB69 / 27 km/h

RB and SB63 / 25 km/h

Number of gears8 forward

4 back

Weight44.0 t

Engine power

AB1 584 hp

RB and SB830 hp

Power-to-weight ratio

AB36.0 hp/t

RB and SB18.9 hp/t

Game Mode	Max Speed (km/h)		Weight (tons)	Engine power (horsepower)		Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)
	Forward	Reverse		Stock	Upgraded	Stock	Upgraded
Arcade	69	27	44	1,286	1,584	29.23	36
Realistic	63	25		734	830	16.68	18.86

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB4 185 → 6 227

RB4 270 → 6 353

SB5 457 → 8 120

Total cost of modifications183 800

303 000

Talisman cost2 700

Crew training175 000

Experts620 000

Aces2 100

Research Aces1 010 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

150 / 200 / 240 %

226 / 226 / 226 %

Modifications

Mobility	Protection	Firepower
Tracks Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 280 Suspension Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 400 Brake System Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 400 Filters Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 360 Transmission Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 470 Engine Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 470	Improved Parts Research: 2 300 Cost: 12 000 280 Improved FPE Research: 3 300 Cost: 17 000 400 Crew Replenishment Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 360	Horizontal Drive Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 280 105mm_usa_HESH_ammo_pack Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 280 105mm_NATO_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 7 800 Cost: 12 000 280 Adjustment of Fire Research: 11 000 Cost: 17 000 400 Elevation Mechanism Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 360 Smoke grenade Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 360 NVD Research: 9 800 Cost: 15 000 360 Artillery Support Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 470 105mm_DM33_APDS_FS_ammo_pack Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 470 Laser rangefinder Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 470

Armaments

Laser rangefinder

Reduces the error and increases the maximum measurable distance of the rangefinder

Night vision device

Improves visibility by enhancing natural light or active illumination.

Thermal imager

Allows to see thermal radiation in the infrared range day and night

Main armament

105 mm L7A3 cannon

Two-plane stabilizer

Reduces the swing of the gun in two planes while moving

Ammunition55 rounds

First-order14 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

8.7 → 6.7 s

Vertical guidance-9° / 20°

105 mm L7A3					Turret rotation speed (°/s)					Reloading rate (seconds)
Mode	Capacity	Vertical	Horizontal	Stabilizer	Stock	Upgraded	Full	Expert	Aced	Stock	Full	Expert	Aced
Arcade	55	-9°/+20°	±180°	Two-plane	22.85	31.62	38.40	42.47	45.18	8.71	7.70	7.10	6.70
Realistic					14.28	16.80	20.40	22.56	24.00

Ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
DM12	HEATFS	400	400	400	400	400	400
DM512	HESH	127	127	127	127	127	127
DM23	APFSDS	337	335	330	322	314	306
DM33	APFSDS	408	405	398	389	379	370

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
DM12	HEATFS	1,174	10.5	0.05	0.1	1,270	65°	72°	77°
DM512	HESH	732	11.2	0.1	4	4,310	73°	77°	80°
DM23	APFSDS	1,455	4.2	N/A	N/A	N/A	78°	80°	81°
DM33	APFSDS	1,455	3.79	N/A	N/A	N/A	78°	80°	81°

Ammo racks

Ammo racks of the Leopard I (identical layout)

Full ammo	1st rack empty	2nd rack empty	3rd rack empty	4th rack empty	5th rack empty	Visual discrepancy
55	55 (+0)	54 (+1)	15 (+40)	12 (+43)	1 (+54)	Yes

Notes:

• Racks 4 and 5 are first stage ammo racks. They total 14 shells and get filled first when loading up the tank.
• These racks are also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 4 - 5 - 1 - 2 - 3.
• To go into battle with the frontal ammo racks empty, pack 15 (+40) shells.

Machine guns

7.62 mm C6A1 FLEX machine gun (coaxial)

Ammunition4 400 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate1 001 shots/min

7.62 mm C6A1 FLEX machine gun

Ammunition2 000 rounds

Belt capacity200 rounds

Reloadbasic crew → aces

10.4 → 8.0 s

Fire rate1 001 shots/min

7.62 mm C6
Mount	Capacity (Belt)	Fire rate	Vertical	Horizontal
Coaxial	4,600 (200)	600	N/A	N/A
Pintle	2,000 (200)	600	-8°/+20°	±120°

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Deadly gun with excellent APFSDS rounds (408 mm penetration at 10 m, 1,455 m/s), as well as good ammo options available (HEAT, HESH rounds)
• Adequate gun depression/elevation angles (+20°/-9°), so good at fighting uphill and downhill
• Effective two axis stabilization
• Effective zoom values (4x-12x) to look for targets and place accurate shots
• The extra composite screens work as a spaced armour and are an effective protection against HEAT in some parts
• Good reverse speed (25 km/h) to get out of sticky situations
• Access to a laser range finder for quick and accurate ranging
• Access to thermal imaging to spot targets in bad conditions (only 1st gen though, 800 x 600 resolution)
• Can produce a favourable German line-up alongside the Leopard A1A1 (L/44), Leopard A1A1, Radkampfwgen 90 etc.

Cons:

• Armour will not protect you against most APFSDS rounds nor chemical rounds, especially to the front
• Roof-mounted MG are in rifle-calibres, and can not cause sufficient damage against most encountered enemies
• Heavier weight than the standard Leopard 1 due to extra screen armour affects acceleration, handling, and turret traverse

History

In 1999, the Canadian Armed Forces sought to upgrade their arsenal of 66 Leopard C1s which were purchased from West Germany in June 1977. The tanks underwent refurbishment that equipped the tanks with a new turret, gunsight, and hydraulic systems for better long-distance movement. In the year 2006, the C2A1s saw action when a 15 tank squadron from the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) was deployed to Afghanistan to support the peacekeeping effort started by the United States and other countries, which included Canada, following the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York. While in Afghanistan the squadron's C2A1's received further modification to accommodate the fighting situation. The modifications were new mine-resistant armor on the bottom of the hull to combat IEDs and anti-tank mines prevalent in the area. For the comfort of the crew, a new cooling system and thermal covers were added to the C2s serving in Afghanistan. The C2's were recalled in 2011 when Canada concluded all combat operations in Afghanistan. Canada replaced its fleet of C2A1s with new Leopard 2s in 2017.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the C2A1 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Leopard C2A1 Mexas - Not Always Sorry - JustinPlaysYT

Should You Grind the Leopard C2A1 Mexas? Review/Buyer's Guide - theScottishKoala

C2A1 Tank Review - Keep Or Sell? - Napalmratte

Leopard C2A1 MEXAS - ConeOfArc

Should You Grind The C2A1 MEXAS? - Sako Sniper

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the vehicles;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Devblog] Operation S.U.M.M.E.R. Leopard C2A1 MEXAS
• [Tank Nut Dave] The Canadian Leopard C2 Tank